§ CAPTAIN SELWYNI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War how many firms were last year invited to tender for the supply of large guns, and whether Messrs. Vickers, Messrs. Brown, and Messrs. Cammell were among the number; whether these firms were gunmakers; whether it is a fact that the only information the firms invited to tender could get was contained in a set of drawings of different sized guns; whether it is a fact that there was no specification, except that the steel was to be subjected to certain tests; whether, on application to the War Office, the firms were told that there "was no further specification," and that they must make their tenders upon the drawings only; whether it is a fact that no instructions as to the amount of shrinkage, hardening, or tempering were given; whether there was any stipulation as to the test the guns had to go through after completion; whether the whole order for guns, with the exception of a small number of small calibre, was given to 707 Messrs. Vickers; and, whether Messrs. Vickers had ever made guns; and, if so, how many?
§ MR. HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield)Before my right hon. Friend answers this question, I should like to ask him if the War Office has not been thoroughly satisfied that Messrs. Vickers have every possible appliance for the manufacture of finished guns, and if the high reputation of their steel forgings and those of Messrs. Cammell and Brown does not justify the full confidence of Her Majesty's Government in their endeavours to stimulate Home Industry?
§ *THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. E. STANHOPE,) Lincolnshire, HorncastleIn answer to the hon. and gallant Gentleman (Captain Selwyn) who has put the first question, I have to say that I am informed that all the firms which had expressed a wish to entertain the question of the manufacture of guns were invited to tender. Messrs. Brown and Messrs. Cammell were not among the number. It is understood that these firms and Messrs. Vickers had made forgings for guns, but not guns themselves. The information upon which tenders were invited was not complete, but it was sufficient for the firms which had been invited, all of whom tendered. The principal share of the order fell to Messrs. Vickers, the remainder, including some heavy guns, went to Sir W. Armstrong and Co., and of course neither Messrs. Vickers nor any other firm which had not previously made heavy guns would have gone to the expense of setting up plant without a substantial order. In reply to my hon. and gallant Friend behind me (Mr. Howard Vincent), I may state that most ample inquiries were made before intrusting Messrs. Vickers with this order, as to their means of production; and the Director of Army Contracts was satisfied that they could place themselves in a position to execute the orders within reasonable time. There is no reason to be dissatisfied with the progress already made.